Sex abuse teacher
Jailed for preying on teenage pupils
MIKE MCQUAID
A PE teacher with a history of child abuse has been jailed for 16 months after admitting preying on two more vulnerable pupils.
Sheriff Douglas Brown heard how sleazy Bruce Rankin had nicknames for one of the girls and would cuddle her.
We told you in 2017 how the pervert admitted abusing three young girls between 2010 and 2014, including at the school where he taught them.
Now the Strathaven-based beast has admitted to two further historical charges between 2007 and 2010.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how the 61-year-old abused one girl who was being bullied and another who was suffering from depression.
One girl, who was between 13 and 15 at the time of the abuse, thought Rankin was trying to comfort her when he cuddled her and told her not to let people “get her down”.
Passing sentence, Sheriff Brown said Rankin was guilty of a breach of trust, adding: “The court has to make plain that such behaviour by a teacher is completely unacceptable and must be dealt with severely.
“Given the serious nature of the offences, the only appropriate sentence is imprisonment.”
The victims came forward after hearing their ex-teacher had been convicted of molesting other pupils.
Rankin, of Whiteshawgate Highway, admitted charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and indecent assault.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, told the court: “Sometimes he would put his arms around her and touch her breasts through her clothing.
“The first time this happened she thought it might have been an accident, but this behaviour was repeated on a number of occasions – too many to be accidental.
“He also touched the girl’s buttocks under the guise of trying to hurry her along.”
Mr Thomson told how Rankin’s second victim suffered from anxiety and depression at the time of the abuse.
The then 16-year-old was allowed to study alone in the school library and Rankin would join her there. He had nicknames for her and would cuddle her.
The Fiscal said: “While they were sitting the accused would touch her leg and keep his hand there while talking to her.
“On more than one occasion he rubbed the inside of her thigh. On one occasion she slammed a book down on her lap which caused him to pull away.”
He was jailed for 18 months at the same court in 2017, but that sentence was overturned on appeal and he was instead put under supervision for three years and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid community work.
That’s despite Sheriff Shiona Waldron saying there was no alternative to custody given the gravity of the offences
During his previous case, it was revealed that Rankin had a written warning against him from a former school – that dated back to 2012 following complaints of inappropriate touching and comments.
NSPCC Scotland condemned Rankin’s breach of trust during the attacks saying he should have been aware of their vulnerability.
The charity also applauded “the bravery” of his victims in coming forward.
Rankin retired from teaching in 2014 and was later struck off by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.
Defence agent Marco Guarino said that once the new charges had been brought, his client issued clear instructions to plead guilty as soon as possible.
The sentence was reduced from two years because of his guilty pleas.
Rankin was also put on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.